Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

History

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish on Roosevelt Island welcomed its first parishioners in 1975 – a parish begun by Cardinal Cooke, who requested the Missionary Sisters to work with the founding pastor, Fr. John McCarthy, to minister there. Roosevelt Island was a New York State Project – to replace Welfare Island (once called Blackwell Island)…It was a Utopian idea of blending all peoples – rich and poor, multi-cultural, multi-national, to live side by side to form community and to work for the common good. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish took a leadership role in the early days of realizing the ideal.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish continues to grow. More young people who are interested in participating in our Catholic Life here have surfaced and are contributing to a “new face”. They are volunteering in music ministry, religious education, liturgical roles, etc. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish is alive and well!

We no longer share the New York State Building of The Chapel of the Good Shepherd Center or the storefront chapel at 564 Main Street. In January 2018, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini parish opened its new worship site, community center, and education center at 504 Main Street.